Novak Djokovic’s wife, Jelena, is a constant in his box. Sometimes with their families, sometimes sans their kids. Usually smiling and cheering her husband, sometimes shocked, but mostly just going with the flow. But despite the many moods of Jelena we see, a rose certainly has some thorns.

Especially when it concerns her husband. How does the world of social media, publicity, and tennis affect the couple? Jelena Djokovic, wife of an athlete and a CEO in her own right, has something to say!

Djokovic’s 60th clash against Rafael Nadal was not a thrilling encounter but a memory to savor on the clay court for times to come. But that also led to tennis fans standing in arms against the Serbian ace, and in solidarity with Nadal. After his win, Boldsky published the high-profile couple’s love story. A sweet reminder of love when Djokovic is receiving everything but that in Paris. Down in the columns, some words reflected the melancholy in Jelena’s heart.

There is a price for everything, and when it comes to the popularity, being a public figure ,what does the cost include? At a first glance, in the words the Serbian ace’s wife, “We look at public figures and think that kind of publicity is okay.” Maybe easy to deal with, no serious repercussions. However, that is only half the story, because when one is on the receiving end for over two decades, the cost is huge. Jelena further added, “But as time goes on, you lack anonymity, you lack the privacy to be able to do whatever you like at any time, in any situation. I try to resist all these expectations to always be myself and for Novak to be able to be himself.”

The couple has not always had it easy. There was a time in 2019 when the Djokovics went through nasty rumors of separation because Jelena had not been spotted in his box over a year. There was a clear reason – the birth of their daughter Tara, born in 2017. She had been too young to travel and as tennis players know all too well, life on the Tour can be particularly gruelling.

Djokovic understands that his wife may not like all parts of her life at all times. Referring to himself as a ‘wolf’ in an interview once, he stated, “It can be very stressful to run with the wolf. I know that she doesn’t enjoy it at all times. It’s kind of living on the edge with the wolf.”

Moreover, looking at Djokovic’s journey in the circuit has been anything but favorable despite being at the top of the ATP roster. And Jelena has certainly evolved and adapted to the ways of the world, and the fame that comes with Djokovic. However, this calmness and evolution weren’t easy from the get-go, as Jelena also had to get past the marriage stereotypes to stand firm beside her husband.

Djokovic’s wife details struggle and competition with her husband

Things were never easy for Djokovic in the tennis circuit, and it certainly wasn’t a cakewalk at home either. Marriage is a turning point, and further exposure to the limelight makes things rocky from the start. Jelena broke the perception of “all is well at home,” with the interview where she opened up about the hardest time that they faced as a couple.

She said, “I was trying to compete with him. I felt like I’m also deserving. And I’m not getting enough credit for what I’m doing. I’m doing it more in the backstage. My ego was there battling also an internal battle. I felt that I can express so much more but I’ve to do it more quiet.” After feeling unheard, and that her role as the pillar for her husband being ignored, she battled all the stereotypes as she came out stronger than ever.

In a twist of fate, today the 24-time grand Slam champion’s wife has been crowned as the “First Lady,” while her husband is termed as the favorite to win the Olympics title.